Date labels, storage advice and freezing for food safety.
WRAP, the Food Standards Agency and Defra have produced a summary of information which covers the date labelling and storage instruction requirements for surplus food, in order for it to be safely redistributed. The aim is to increase the amount of food made available by food businesses for redistribution and accepted by recipient organisations.
The Redistribution Labelling Guide covers date labelling and storage instruction requirements for surplus food, in order for it to be safely redistributed, along with guidance for freezing and relabelling fresh food and was originally published in 2017. The guide outlines simple information across four key food categories that typically carry a ‘Best Before’ date:
- uncut fresh produce;
- bread and bakery;
- ambient products packaged in cans, jars, packets; and
- frozen foods.
It stresses the importance of visual checks of food and packaging to ensure the food is of good quality.
Download the guide by visiting the website here.
The guide has been updated (April 2020) to advise on how long different foods can be expected to be suitable for redistribution after the ‘Best Before’ date. It outlines processes which food businesses and redistribution organisations can use to implement the guidance.
The information covers manufacturing, retail and supplier businesses, and all types of redistribution organisations.
Also available is the Redistribution Checklist, which highlights the essential labelling-related requirements for safely and legally redistributing surplus food, and the additional requirements when freezing food to be redistributed. This has also been updated (April 2020) in line with the updated guidance.
Download the checklist by visiting the website here.
contact us
sign up
Join us
